Mariah’s Family Tree
While we wait for Mariah’s five eggs to hatch, we’d like everyone to know that we have restored the family tree to the Rochester Falconcam website for this year. Long time fans will recall that Kodak kept Mariah’s family tree updated through 2006 on the Kodak Birdcam. When the Genesee Valley Audubon Society took over the website, we missed adding the family tree, so we’re happy to be able to return it again for 2008.
You can get to the family tree by clicking the History link on the left side of the screen, then clicking Family Tree. Click the small picture to display a larger version. We’ve added some new information to the family tree, including Cabot-Sirocco’s parents, Toronto’s own Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley. We have also added color to some of the eyas’s names. These colors refer to the colored tape that covers the US Fish and Wildlife Service ID band on each falcon’s right leg. The colored tape makes it easy for our volunteer Fledge Watchers to identify each fledgling from a distance. It’s easy to spot the colored tape through binoculars even when the ID band numbers can’t be read, so the tape is a real benefit for our watchers.
We have also been working on a history of Mariah’s family, including updates on their current locations and status when that information is available to us. We’re working to add that information to the family tree too, so look for it soon!
CLICK HERE to open Mariah’s Family Tree
-Jess
April 24th, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I thought this has been around for a long time. Ive been on it many times and I see no changes. 😉
April 24th, 2008 at 9:50 PM
this is awesome. I’ve been watching for years and always wondered how many offspring there have been and if we know where they all are. It’s fun to see that we have followed many to other parts of the country and Canada. These birds are so beautiful and what a wonderful program this is.
Thanks for all every one of you do.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Thanks Jess and everyone at the GVAS, a great tree for a very productive couple.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:56 AM
I am so pleased to be able to see these beautiful creatures have repopulated their species with abundance.. It always amazes me that they find their way back to this particular nest..and judging from the description of Mariah’s battle to keep her scrape proves how powerful and strong willed she is.
I have to tell you all last year at this time I was in one of Rochester’s hospitals for almost 3-months rehabilitating my respiratory system.. I had a room with a view toward the Kodak building..also toward another building with a huge outline of a Peregrine Falcon high up on the side of one outside wall. I don’t know the name of the building, but remember reading somewhere that an artist made this as a gift to the people of Rochester..
Altho I didn’t have access to a computer there, I tried to keep tabs on our couple..I did ask one of my therapist if he would look up the information for me..I was curious as to how many fledglings were in the nest. At first he didn’t realize Rochester had such a famous couple and had to tell him all about them. Eventually he found the site and gave me the information! I was extremely happy they had another successful year. I’d watch from my window when I could to see if I could catch sight of them.. One evening I was watching and ‘imagined’ I saw one of them sitting on a corner of another building… Just the thought ‘it could’ be made my day! Ten years is a very long time … 1998 is when I started watching them to.. so.. this tenth anniversary for them is something to celebrate.. Ten years of dedication from a pair of beautiful birds returning to their same nest is quite simply …. well. Amazing!!
Shirley,
Ithaca,NY
April 25th, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Hi,
I have been watching Mariah since I found this site in 2004. I want to first say thank you for allowing us a glimpse into this amazing part of nature.
I have a question also. For how many years does the average falcon produce offspring and what is the life expectancy of a peregrine falcon?
Thanks again for all that you do.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Jess, I was one of the people last year who requested the family tree be put back on the website. I did notice right away that you had added it this year and I appreciate it! It’s so nice to view this amazing history. While looking at this family tree and also browsing the Toronto website where Rhea Mae is nesting, I discovered that Rhea Mae is nesting at the same place where Mariah’s first mate, Cabot Sirocco was born. Although Rhea Mae and Cabot Sirocco aren’t related, I thought it was funny that there was another connection to Mariah.
I did have a question…. Last week, while watching Rhea Mae’s nest site, I noticed that for a little more than a 1/2 hour, neither Rhea Mae nor Tiago were sitting on the four eggs. I got worried for alittle bit because the eggs were left for that period of time in the Toronto morning (~0900) when it was still chilly out, but then one of the falcons finally came back. So my question is, ” is there a risk to the viability of these eggs because of that and how long of a period of time can they be off the eggs?” Thanks for your response.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:11 AM
My students have been amazed by the beautiful photos of Rhea Mae & Freedom. Their productivity proves that there’s hope for the future.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Thanks so much for the family tree. I have been an avid watcher since 2002. What ever happended to Fowler from last years clutch?
April 28th, 2008 at 3:54 PM
@ Lori- Falcons can produce offspring as soon as they reach sexual maturity, usually in their second year. They can continue laying viable eggs throughout their lives. In captivity Peregrines have been known to live as long as twenty years. In the wild 12-15 is a more realistic lifespan.
@ Terri- You can learn all about incubation from an Imprints article that I wrote last year. CLICK HERE to read it!
@ Dawn- The 2007 offspring from Rochester were named Linn, Ananta, Grace, and Sacajawea. I imagine you’re thinking about offspring from another nest site.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:30 PM
For everyone waiting patiently for our Rochester falcon eggs to hatch, the falcons in NYC at 55 Water Street are way ahead of us. From their webcame (live streaming), it looks like two of the eggs have already hatched. Lots to watch at their nest site! http://www.55water.com/falcons/ and click on webcam.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Oops – I meant click on “live BirdCam” on the left of the screen.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:40 PM
What is happening with the main camera? The pic never changes. I checked and compared pics taken about 1/2 hour apart. Exactly same. And same as yesterday. Only the date and time changes.
April 28th, 2008 at 5:20 PM
I love the family tree, it’s excellent!
I’m concerned now, the main camera image has stopped changing, as many others had said, the date changes but something is wrong. I hope you guys are looking into it!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:59 PM
Jess, you’re right I’m thinking about the falcons in Syracuse! Oops!
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 AM
I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA, THANKS, NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY CHICKS SHE HAS HAD…. WHAT A GIRL.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Lets see that Family tree expanded, and see the offspring and their offspring, lets see how big this tree really is….